Hawks show some love for Crawford's glove

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford gets in some practice Friday in Chicago. The Blackhawks will host the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final series Saturday.Associated Press

Blackhawks goalie coach Stephane Waite, center, talks to goalies Ray Emery, left, and Corey Crawford during practice Friday. Crawford will be in the net for Game 5 on Saturday against Boston.Associated Press

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"I tried today and he stopped me glove side, so hopefully he's got it all figured out," teammate Patrick Kane said. "I've seen goals go in all different ways and I've seen him make saves all different ways. I like his chances against them.

"Everyone thinks (they're) going to shoot to the glove. It's not like Corey can start cheating glove side, because those guys are such good shooters they can pick him apart. Who knows if that's a once-in-a-lifetime type of game or if they've figured something out."

The Bruins scored all 5 goals to Crawford's glove side in Game 4, but even they claimed it was just coincidence.

"Well, I think you guys exposed them because we scored 5 goals on that side," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I don't think it was done purposely on our end of it. We happened to shoot there because that's where the opening was at that time.

"I think you can score on other areas, hopefully, on Corey Crawford than just the glove. It's one of those games where a lot of them went on that side. But at the end of the day, you're looking for ways to score goals, and whether it's cross toss or tips or screens or whatever, it doesn't really matter."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville thinks goalies are the most scrutinized players on the ice.

"The scrutiny of goaltending at any stage of the season is at a different level of any other player, and I guess it's even more out there now that you're in the Final," Quenneville said. "But Corey just seems to move forward whatever the challenge is, the next shot, the next game. He won a big game for us, and that's where we're at."

Faceoff success:

The Hawks did a much better job on faceoffs in Game 4, winning 49 percent of them.

Patrick Sharp, who was 4-3, had a pretty good teacher in the minors in former Flyers center Bobby Clarke, who was considered one of the best ever on faceoffs.

"I played center growing up and I remember Bobby Clarke came out on the ice with us in Philadelphia in the minors and kind of taught us how to take faceoffs," Sharp said. "The biggest thing he told me was, 'Get in there, get low and just battle and not be afraid to get dirty.'

"Sometimes you get thinking about what the other guy's doing and what you want to do at the faceoff dot and sometimes the best way is just get in there and compete for that puck."

Hossa to play:

Marian Hossa didn't practice on Friday, but Joel Quenneville and his teammates expect him to play in Saturday's pivotal Game 5.

"I think he's going to play," linemate Patrick Sharp said. "He played last game and I thought he played well. He wasn't at his best, but we'll take Hoss at any percentage we can get. He makes so many good plays with the puck and away from the puck."

Jamal Mayers took Hossa's spot at right wing on the second line with Sharp and Michal Handzus at Friday's practice, but he also did that at the morning skate on Monday before Game 4.

"Hossa is fine," Quenneville said.

Shots through:

Defenseman Michal Rozsival helped turn Game 4 around for the Hawks with two point shots that got through to the net.

Jonathan Toews tipped the first one in and Patrick Kane scored on a rebound on the second one.

Rozsival had a strong game, playing more than 26 minutes.

"He's been a real nice fit to our team since the start of the season," Joel Quenneville said. "Rozy is predictable, experienced; (his) patience level with the puck is something we haven't had in some time in that role. He only played half the games, but deserved a lot more minutes.

"The depth of our defense from the outset of the season was probably the greatest improvement from last year to this year. He's been productive all year long. His direct plays and putting the puck in right areas when there are no direct plays is very complementary to our team game."

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